Side arm stowable table

ABSTRACT

A foldable and stowable table is provided in the side arm rest of a vehicle seat or chair in a manner to be entirely out of the way when stored but readily unfolded and usable as a cocktail or meal table. A preferred embodiment has a compression spring in combination with a hinge support portion so as to permit an initial release and a partial outward movement of the table from within a storage space.

United States Patent Inventors George Artaras Newtown; Reni J. Brunelle,Waterbury; Robert J. Richardson, Lltchfield, all 01 Conn. Appl. No.54,268 Filed July 13, 1970 Patented Jan. 4, 1972 Assignee Universal OilProducts Company Des Plaines, [IL

SIDE ARM STOWABLE TABLE 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

0.8. CI 297/145, 297/ 194 Int. Cl A47c 7/70 Field of Search 297/145,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,947,348 8/1960 Peckham297/ 145 2,000,916 5/1935 Bloom 297/194 X 3,197,254 7/1965 Hendrickson297/162 FORElGN PATENTS 1 16,999 1 H1929 Austria 297/145 12,376 1908Great Britain. 297/155 755,261 9/1933 France 297/155 PrimaryExaminerJames T. McCall Attorneys-James R. Hoatson, Jr. and Philip T.Liggett ABSTRACT: A foldable and stowable table is provided in the sidearm rest of a vehicle seat or chair in a manner to be entirely out ofthe way when stored but readily unfolded and usable as a cocktail ormeal table. A preferred embodiment has a compression spring incombination with a hinge support portion so as to permit an initialrelease and a partial outward movement of the table from within astorage space.

3J6s2116i PATENIH] m 4972 SHEET 1 BF 2 A TTORNEYS v PATE'NTED JAN 4 B72n v T CIT l 0U 28 Hi wn 7 E E R I fif 5 W EXPANDED SPRING COMPRESSED $58Raw mm N 3 E VQJ. m 1%. GR /|\//|J/l Robert J. Richardson SIDE ARMSTOWABLE TABLE This invention relates to a construction and arrangementfor providing a table that may be folded and stowed within the side armportion of a chair or vehicular seat.

More particularly, there is provided a stowing system for a side armtable that incorporates springbiasing means which will effect an initialrelease and partial horizontal movement of the table outwardly from itsstorage space at the side of the seat.

Various types of folding or hinged tables have been provided for schoolroom or auditorium seats, as well as for aircraft or other vehicularpassenger seats. However, most of these folding tables have beenattached to the back of a seat in front of the user or they have beenmade to hand from the side of a seat or chair and thus have not beenstored in a manner to be entirely out of the way and thereby provide amore aesthetic appearance to the seating unit.

It may also be noted that in connection with aircraft passenger seatswhich face a bulkhead or begin a row, there is the lack of a seat backto have a tiltdown table to be used by the occupants in such first rowseats; and, as a result, there is the need to have various types of laptrays or plugin" table means for the serving of meals to the passengersin such seats. The plugin tables are necessarily stored at some otherpoint in the aircraft and must be obtained, as well as put away, by anairline stewardess.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide a sidearm support and storage arrangement for a serving table which isparticularly useful in connection with aircraft seats or for otherpassenger vehicle seats.

It may be considered a further object of the present invention to have afolding table and stowing system which provides for at least a partialhorizontal movement of a folded down and stored table outwardly from avertical storage slot in the side portion of a seating unit. A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide a compression spring and arelease means in combination with a slidehinge support means which willeffect an initial movement and dislodgement of the table from itsstorage zone.

In a broad embodiment, the present invention provides a stowable tablearrangement for use with a seat, which comprises in combination, avertically disposed storage section at one side of said seat sized tostore at least one table member therein, a table support memberpivotally connected to the top of said storage section and a slidehingemeans as a part of said support member connecting to one edge of a tablemember to thereby provide a holding of the latter within and outside ofsaid storage section, with said pivot connection for said table supportmember providing for endwise rotation of the attached table memberthrough at least about l80and said slidehinge means providing forrotation of the table member from a vertical position to a horizontalposition across the front of the seat, said slidehinge meansadditionally comprising at least two sections which are slideable withrespect to each other to thereby permit fore and aft movement of thetable member with respect to said support member and with respect tosaid seat.

In a normal stored arrangement, the table will be suspended from thetable support member in an enclosed storage section which is within aside arm area of the seat and except for an edge of the table member itwill be entirely within the storage slot and no obstruction problems.However, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there will be incorporated a springbiasing member inconnection with the slidehinge means and the support means such that thepressing of a release button, or the lifting of a release pin, orwhatever, will permit the spring means to push the table memberoutwardly from the storage section whereby the table can then begripped, lifted, and rotated upwardly through an approximate 180 arc tobe along side the seat occupant above the arm or storage section. Thetable may then be rotated approximately 90 downwardly about the hingingmeans to be positioned in front of a seat occupant. Where desired, thetable member itself may be in two sections, with one section foldableupon the other so as to provide a greater table width when rotateddownward to be in front of the seat occupant.

In view of the need to rotate the table member through approximatelyl80", the support member is, in the present construction, provided witha single pivot point in its attachment to the side arm or storageportion of the seat and will necessarily have an upper face which isexposed at the time of the table being stored and then subsequentlyturned to an upsidedown position when the table is being used in frontof the seat occupant.

Various types of combined slide means and hinge means may be provided toconnect the edge of a table member to the pivotable support member whichis coextensive therewith and can provide for fore and aft movement withrespect to the storage section; however, in one embodiment, there may hean inner tubular member encased within an outer tubular-fonn member suchthat there can be rotation of the inner member with respect to theouter, as well as the possibility of longitudinal movement between theconcentric members. Also, with the use of concentric and slidabletubularform members in the hinging means, there may be the positioningof a compression spring within a tubular member such that the springmeans can provide movement of the table member, that connects to onetubular member, with respect to the other tubular member, that in turnconnects to the support means and the storage section.

It is also to be noted that in a particular embodiment, when desired,there may be the forward movement, or vice versa, of the table memberafter it has been rotated upwardly and folded down into the horizontalposition so as to provide proper spacing or comfort with respect to theseat occupant. In a specific arrangement, where a compression springmeans is used in combination with the hingesupport member to effect aninitial outward movement, or dislodgement, of the table member from thestorage section, the resulting effect after lifting and rotating themember through approximately 180", is to have the table member closer tothe occupant and to the back of the seat. Thus, where it is desired tohave more space, the user may, after rotating the table upwardly into avertical plan, push forward on the table member so as to slide onehinging section into the other a distance equivalent to that which thetable was moved outwardly from the storage area. Actually, the table canbe moved to be locked, by a spring operative latching means, such thatthe compression spring is again locked into its compressed state.

Reference to the accompanying drawings and the description thereof willserve to illustrate one embodiment of the present invention as well aspoint out variations and advantageous features which may be obtained inthe construction and operation of the present side arm storagearrangement.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show, in isometric views, how a folding serving tablemay be stored vertically in the side arm portion of a seat so as to beout of the way while the table is in the stowed position, as well asshow the unfolded position for use in front of a seat occupant.

FIG. 4 indicates diagrammatically how the unfolded serving table can bemoved forwardly after it has been brought out of the storage section andis to be placed into use.

FIG. 5 of the drawing shows, in a diagrammatic side elevational view,the use of a pivotable support member and the attachment of such memberthrough hinge means to one edge of a folding table member, the latterbeing vertically suspended from the support means when in the storagesection of the seat unit.

FIG. 6 indicates an end elevational view of the table member and of thepivoting support means, as indicated by the line 66 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows diagrammatically a side elevational view of a tubularformhinging means for use between one edge of the table member and thepivoting support member, with such tubular-form hinging means of twotubularform sections and having an internal compression spring member toeffect longitudinal movement of one section with respect to the othersection whereby an attached table member can be moved fore and aft withrespect to the seat unit.

FIG. 8 of the drawing is a diagrammatic side elevational view indicatinghow the stored table member may be rotated through approximately I80 andthen folded down to a substantially horizontal position in front of aseat occupant. This view also shows how the compression spring releasemeans and the tablesupporting member rotates about a pivot point movingfrom a rightsideup, or a stored position, to an upsidedown position asthe table is placed into use.

Referring now briefly to FIGS. 1 through 4 in the drawing, there areshown seating units 1 and 1' where there is a side arm portion 2 havinga vertical slotted type of storage section 3 adapted to provide for thestorage of a folding table member 4. It will also be noted in connectionwith FIGS. 1 and 2 that there is a top trim plate 5 with a rearwardlypositioned push button section 6 whereby there can be a release of aninternally positioned compression spring (not shown in these drawings)whereby table member 4 can move horizontally forward from the positionof FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 2. There is also an indication, by the dashlines 4" in FIG. 2, that the table 4 may be lifted and rotated in avertical arc about a pivot point provided through a support member 7,partially shown in FIG. 3, with respect to the top portion of storagesection 3. As a result, the upper plate 5 as well as the support member7 pivots in a manner to become entirely upsidedown within the upperportion of arm section 2 and storage zone 3. After table 4 has reachedthe position 4" in FIG. 2, it may be rotated downwardly approximately 90to be in a horizontal plan in front of the seat occupant, as shown byFIGS. 3 and 4. Also, where the table member 4 has a folded twoparttable, then a folded section such as 4a can provide a greater widthtable in front of the seat occupant.

In FIG. 4, it will be noted that section 4a has been unfolded from thesection 4 that attaches to support means 7 and, in addition, that thetable members may slide forward with respect to support member 7 wherebythere may be more space between the table and the front of the seatoccupant.

In FIG. 5 of the drawing, table member 4 is shown (in full lines) withinthe storage section 3 at the side of the seat unit 1 in a manner to besuspended from the upper support member 7. There is also indicated theuse of a roller 18 in the lower portion of storage section 3 so as toassist in the easy forward movement of table member 4 from the storagesection 3. In the diagrammatic embodiment shown, the trim plate 5 andthe channelform support member 7 interlock with one another and thelatter is supported from a pin member, at a pivot point 8, that connectsto the side arm portion 2 for the seat unit 1. Thus, the support member7 is free to rotate in a vertical plane and in an approximate l80arc sothat the table member 4 may be lifted from its lower position 4' to anupper position above the arm rest section 2.

In accordance with the present improved construction, there is indicateda tubular form of hinging means between the lower edge of support member7 and the upper edge portion of table member 4 with such tubularformhinge means being indicated at 9. As better shown in FIG. 7, thetubular-form hinge means 9 has two sections such that an inner tubularmember 9' can slide longitudinally back and forth within an outertubular form section 9" to permit table member 4 to move fore and aftwith respect to support means 7 as well as with respect to the seat unitI. Also, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentconstruction, there will be a compression spring 10 encased within thetubularform hinge means 9 such that upon its release the section 9' willbe moved longitudinally with respect to section 9" and, at the sametime, move the attached table member 4 with respect to the support means7 and storage section 3 into position 4' (as shown in FIG. 5).

Referring again to FIG. 5, there is indicated that the downward push ofa release button 6, in the reanvard portion 11 of plate 5, will in turnpush a lever means 12 about pivot point 8 so as to release a pin or armmember 13 in tubular member 9' such that the latter together with tablemember 4 will move forward to position 4' from the action of springmember 10 (indicated in FIG. 7). It should be noted that the compressionspring 10 is held in a given zone between pin members 14 and I5 but uponthe release of the latching means 13 there will be a release of thecompression spring 10 to its expanded position and the accompanyingmovement of the inner tubular member 9' in section 9" by virtue of slotmeans I6 to the extent permitted by pin means 14, whereby the position4' of FIG. 5 is obtained by table member 4.

With particular reference to FIG. 8 of the drawing, there is shown themovement of table member 4 from position 4' into position 4" and thepivoting of support means 7 about pivot point 8 such that the latterresults in the upsidedown position with trim plate 5 also upsidedownwithin the storage section 3 and table member 4 elevated to the upperhorizontal position above arm rest section 2 in the manner equivalent toFIG. 4 of the drawing. After table member 4 has been brought to theposition 4", or to the unfolded position shown in full, then, ifdesired, it may be slid forwardly or outwardly with respect to seat unit1 and support member 7 so as to reach the position 4", as shown in FIG.8.

In effecting the removal of table member 4 from the front of the seatoccupant and into its storage section, the reverse movements of thetable are exerted by first folding the table members from the horizontalposition into a vertical plane and thence to position of 4" so as topermit the downward rotative movement around pivot point 8 to then reachposition 4'. The table member is subsequently slid into the storagesection 3 where it is entirely out of the way of the seat occupant.

Although not shown in the drawing, it is to be noted that wherepassenger seats are utilized in rows, there can be one table member foreach arm section whereby an individual table member is stored withineach vertical storage section 3. On the other hand, where desired, asingle storage section may be provided between adjoining seat units andtwo table members could be stored within a widened storage section, withone table member supported in a manner to unfold toward one seat unitand the other table member arranged to unfold in the opposite directionand be in front of the seat occupant of the adjoining seat unit.

The present drawings indicate table unit 4 to be in two sections so asto provide a greater width by virtue of the folding section 4a; however,there may be a single smaller or larger table member attached to thepivoting support member in accordance with the system and it is notintended i0 limit the present invention to any one size or shape for thetable portion. Various types of attachment means or hinging means suchas 17 within FIG. 4 may be used to effect the folding of one tablesection onto another section and again it is not intended to limit thepresent invention to any one special form or type of hinging means. Itis to be further noted that various types of sliding hinging means maybe utilized with respect to the connection between the support member 7and edge of the table member 4. However, a tubularform hinge which maybe constructed of concentric and telescopic sections is of advantage inthat it permits transverse rotation while at the same time permittingfore and aft sliding movement of one section with respect to the other.Also, the tubularform hinge means is of advantage in being able to fitinto a recessed edge of the table member, such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6of the drawing.

Still further, it is to be noted that it is not intended to limit thepresent storage system to any one type of compression spring or springbiasing for effecting the outward and forward movement of the tablemember 4 with respect to storage section 3 inasmuch as spring meanscould be provided externally of hinging section 9 rather than within thetubular portion thereof. Also, the release button 6 together with themovement of release pin 13 might well be accomplished in an equivalentmechanical manner to provide the desired holding of the spring 10 undercompression until such time as the springbiasing action is desired toprovide automatic movement of table member 4 with respect to supportmeans 7. Still other modifications and variations may be made inconnection with the pivoting support system and still be within thebroad scope of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A stowable table arrangement for use with a seat, which comprises incombination, a vertically disposed storage section at one side of saidseat sized to store at least one table member therein, a table supportmember with a pivot connection to the top of said storage section and aslidehinge means as a part of said support member connecting to one edgeof a table member to thereby provide a holding of the latter within andoutside of said storage section, with said pivot connection for saidtable support member providing for endwise rotation of the attachedtable member in the plane of said storage section through at least aboutl80and said slidehinge means providing for rotation of the table memberfrom a vertical position to a horizontal position across the front ofthe seat, said slidehinge means additionally comprising at least twosections which are slidable with respect to each other to thereby permitfore and aft movement of the table member with respect to said supportmember and with respect to said seat.

2. The stowable table arrangement of claim 1 further characterized inthat springbiasing means connects with said slidehinge means such thatthere is spring biasing of one section of the latter with respect to theother, and a releasable lock means is provided to connect with at leastone portion of said slidehinge means to permit a release of thespringbiasing means to effect the biased horizontal movement of saidtable member outwardly from said storage section for a predetermineddistance when the table member is hanging in the stored position.

3. A stowable table arrangement for use with a seat, which comprises incombination, a vertically disposed storage section at one side of saidseat sized to store at least one table member therein, a table supportmember with a pivot connection to the top of said storage section and aslidehinge means as a part of said support member connecting to one edgeof a table member to thereby provide a holding of the latter within andoutside of said storage section, with said pivot connection for saidtable support member providing for endwise rotation of the attachedtable member through at least about land said slidehinge means providingfor rotation of the table member from a vertical position to ahorizontal position across the front of the seat, said slidehinge meansadditionally comprising at least two sections of concentric tubular-formmembers which are slidably interconnected with respect to each othersuch that one section may slide longitudinally with respect to the otherand at the same time permit at least rotation of one section with theother to thereby permit fore and aft movement of the table member withrespect to said support member and with respect to said seat.

4. The stowable table arrangement of claim 3 still further characterizedin that a compression spring as said spring biasing means is positionedwithin said concentric tubularform members whereby to effect the biasedmovement of one section with respect to the other, and a releasable lockmean is connectable to at least one section of said concentric sectionspermitting the release of said compression spring and the sliding of onetubular section in the other to in turn move said table member for apredetermined distance as determined by the length of said expandedcompression spring.

5. The stowable table arrangement of claim 1 further characterized inthat said table member has at least two table sections, with one tablesection being foldable against the other for efi'ecting movement in theendwise rotation and for housing in the storage section.

1. A stowable table arrangement for use with a seat, which comprises incombination, a vertically disposed storage section at one side of saidseat sized to store at least one table member therein, a table supportmember with a pivot connection to the top of said storage section and aslide-hinge means as a part of said support member connecting to oneedge of a table member to thereby provide a holding of the latter withinand outside of said storage section, with said pivot connection for saidtable support member providing for endwise rotation of the attachedtable member in the plane of said storage section through at least about180* and said slide-hinge means providing for rotation of the tablemember from a vertical position to a horizontal position across thefront of the seat, said slidehinge means additionally comprising atleast two sections which are slidable with respect to each other tothereby permit fore and aft movement of the table member with respect tosaid support member and with respect to said seat.
 2. The stowable tablearrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that spring-biasingmeans connects with said slide-hinge means such that there is springbiasing of one section of the latter with respect to the other, and areleasable lock means is provided to connect with at least one portionof said slide-hinge means to permit a release of the spring-biasingmeans to effect the biased horizontal movement of said table memberoutwardly from said storage seCtion for a predetermined distance whenthe table member is hanging in the stored position.
 3. A stowable tablearrangement for use with a seat, which comprises in combination, avertically disposed storage section at one side of said seat sized tostore at least one table member therein, a table support member with apivot connection to the top of said storage section and a slide-hingemeans as a part of said support member connecting to one edge of a tablemember to thereby provide a holding of the latter within and outside ofsaid storage section, with said pivot connection for said table supportmember providing for endwise rotation of the attached table memberthrough at least about 180* and said slide-hinge means providing forrotation of the table member from a vertical position to a horizontalposition across the front of the seat, said slide-hinge meansadditionally comprising at least two sections of concentric tubular-formmembers which are slidably interconnected with respect to each othersuch that one section may slide longitudinally with respect to the otherand at the same time permit at least 90* rotation of one section withthe other to thereby permit fore and aft movement of the table memberwith respect to said support member and with respect to said seat. 4.The stowable table arrangement of claim 3 still further characterized inthat a compression spring as said spring biasing means is positionedwithin said concentric tubular-form members whereby to effect the biasedmovement of one section with respect to the other, and a releasable lockmean is connectable to at least one section of said concentric sectionspermitting the release of said compression spring and the sliding of onetubular section in the other to in turn move said table member for apredetermined distance as determined by the length of said expandedcompression spring.
 5. The stowable table arrangement of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that said table member has at least two table sections,with one table section being foldable against the other for effectingmovement in the endwise rotation and for housing in the storage section.